Device for assorting papers and the like.



PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

0. L. T. MULLER. I DEVICE FOR ASSORTING PAPERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E IEIUIEUIUIUIUI 1111113: :::u:a:u:::u

[raven/30!".-

Witnesses:

' PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

0. L. T. MULLER. DEVICE FOR ASSORTING PAPERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig.6.

Fig.7.

9 V Wzinesses:

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEVICE FOR ASSORTING PAPERS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '12, 1905.

Application filed June 11. 1902. Serial No. 111,197.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARL LUDwIe THnoDoR MULLER, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Hamburg, in the German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Assorting Papers and the Like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in devices adapted to be used for assorting or storing, respectively, papers, post-cards, newspapers, periodicals, books, deeds, and the like.

The object of the improvements is to produce a simple, cheap, compact, and yet reliable and efficient, assorting device, which will retain the assortedpapers, &c., in order and will at the same time allow ready access to the said papers, &c., when desired.

With the above ends in view my improvements consist in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

As many changes and modifications might be made with relation to the construction and relative arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or gist of my invention, I like to have it understood that the characteristic feature of my invention consists in the combination of a suitable base, a plurality of partition-plates, means for rotatably mounting such partition-plates a proper distance apart on the said base, so that the said partition-plates are capable of being rocked in either direction, and means for limiting the amplitude of the rocking partition-plates and preventing the latter from closing upon one another when rocked in the same direction, the said limiting means, however, being arranged so as to be below the axis of rotation of the partition-plates in order that they do not reduce or interfere with the compartmore convenient use of the full depth and.

breadth of each compartment than is the case in well-known assorting devices or racks where the said limiting means are arranged above the axis of rotation of the partitionplates.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on the line 24 0, Fig. 2, of an assorting device constructed in accordance with and embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan or plates 3 and, 6, respectively.

top view of the base, the partition-plates being removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed views of the partition-plates to be mounted on the base of the improved assorting device. Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view as Fig. 1 taken on the line y 2, Fig. 6, and showing a modification of the improved assorting device. Figs. 6 and 7 are top views or plans of the modified base in two different working positions, the partition-plates being removed and in the second figure also the means for carrying and spacing the said partition-plates and for limit ing their rocking motion. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section of the modified assorting device according to the line 20 as, Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is an end view of the base shown in Fig. 6 or 7 as it does appear when seen from the left-hand side, and Fig. 10 is a detailed perspective view representing, on a somewhat larger scale, a part of the means for rotatably mounting the partition-plates onthe base.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the base of the assorting device consists of a rigid or solid plate or board 1, carried by suitable supports 1 The board is provided, preferably, with four rows of holes or perforations 2 and 5. The perforations 2 of the two outer rows register, but alternate with the likewise registering perforations 5 of the two inner rows. Upon the base 1 are mounted two sets of partition- The plates 3 and 6 are provided at their lower edge each with two lugs 4 or 7, respectively, which fit into andengage the corresponding apertures or perforations of the outer or inner rows, respectively, the perforations of the base and the lugs of the partition plates engaging therein forming thus appropriate means for holding the partition-plates a proper distance apart and for allowing the same to be rocked in either direction, the lower edge with which each partition-plate rests upon the base forming the axis of rotation.

The sides of the perforations 2 and 5, en-

gaged by the lugs 4 or 7, respectively, are

beveled in the manner shown, so as to form inclined shoulders or stops 2 against which the said lugs will strike and rest when the partition-plates are rocked or turned over into their right or left end position. The beveled shoulders 2 act,therefore,as stops for limiting the amplitude or rocking motion of the partition-plates in either direction and prevent at the same time the partition-plates from closing one upon the other. By these means the partition-plates, although they may be turned over like the leaves of a book, are always properly spaced, so as to form and maintain between them compartments for the reception of the papers, &c. When the partition-plates are turned over all in the same direction, they run parallel or nearly parallel to one another. The compartments formed by them are then likewise parallel to one another; but any of these compartments may be opened for inspection of its contents or for putting in papers, &c., or removing the same by turning over the partition-plates at one side of the said compartment in one direction and the partition-plates at the other side in the other directionthat is to say, the improved assorting device may be opened at any place like a book, as it is obvious from Fig. 1, without further explanation. By arranging the limiting and stop devices for the partition-plates below the axes of rotation of the latterand that is an essential feature of my improved assorting devicean unobstructed access is obtained to each compartment and the latter may be used to its full extent.

In some cases when it is desired to have compartments of greater spacing distance one set of partition-plates, and consequently the corresponding apertures or perforations in the base-board, may entirely be dispensed withfor example, the partition-plates 6, of which for sake of simplicity only two are shown in Fig. 1 by dotted lines.

In the modification shown by Figs. 5 to 10 the base is formed by a horizontal extensionframe consisting of two U-shaped parts 8 9 and 11 13, the legs 13 being slidably mounted in the legs 9, so that the frame parts may be pushed together by seizing the same at the handles 10 and 12 and moving them against each other, Fig. 7 or they may be extended by moving the frame parts in the opposite direction-that is to say, away from each other. In the former case the recesses 14, Fig. 9, provided in the traverse or support 8 serve as guides for the legs 13, Fig. 7. In the second case the extension of the frame parts is limited, say, by two tapes 15, the ends of which are fastened or attached to the traverses or supports 8 and 11, Figs. 5 and 6. To these tapes 15 are rotatably attached, proper distances apart, the partition-plates 17. For attaching the partition-plates I preferably use short connectingtapes 16, Figs. 8 and 10, which are connected with the tapes 15 by sewing or otherwise. The free ends of the connecting-tapes 16 embrace the lower edge of the partition-plates 17 and are glued or otherwise fastened thereto, so that the tapes l5 and connecting-tapes 16 act as means for holding the partition-plates 17 a proper distance apart and for allowing the same to be rocked in either direction. The lower edges with which the partitionplates rest upon the extension-base form the axes of rotation for the partition-plates. The extension base and the tape device spacing and mounting the partition-plates are therefore equivalent substitutes for the base-plate and the aperture-and-lug device, respectively. (Shown by Figs. 1 to 4.) For limiting the amplitude of the rocking motion of the partitionplates the latter are provided with downwardly-projecting lugs 20 and the lugs connected with one another by means of a tape 18, to which the said lugs are attached by connecting-tapes 19 in a similar manner as the partition-plates to the spacing-tapes 15. The free ends of the limiting-tape are suitably fastened to the traverses 8 and 11 of the extension-base.

In the assorting device shown by Figs. 1 to 1 the partition-plates when in their end positions rest with lugs against suitable stops or shoulders, so that their rocking motion is limited by a pressure device, whereas in the modification shown by Figs. 5 to 10 the rocking motion of the partition-plates is limited by a limiting-tape or a tension device, so to speak.

When any of the compartments between t the partition-plates 17 is opened, the limitingtape beneath this compartment will be slackened and hang down in a slight bight, as it is obvious from Fig. .5, without further explanation.

After the business of a day, &c., has been disposed of or when the use of the assorting device is to be interrupted for any reason the extension-base may be pushed together, so as to bring the device in a more compact form in order to facilitate the putting aside and keeping of such nevertheless somewhat'bulky device when in its operative or working position. When the frame parts of the extension-l base have been pushed together, the partitionplates and the contents, if any, between them are likewise pushed together and firmly clamped in a more or less vertical direction or position between the traverses 8 and 11 and the handles 10 and 12, respectively, if such handles are at all provided, as these handles are no necessary requirement and may be dispensed with. The spacing-tapes and the limiting-tape between the partitionplates will then be slackened and hang down accordingly. For bringing the assorting device again in its working or operative posi-' tion it is only necessary to extend the extension-base until the spacing-tapes are stretched, as shown in Fig. 5.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for assorting papers and the like, the combination of a suitable base, a plurality of partition-plates mounted thereon, means for rotatably securing such partitionplates on the said base, so as to be a suitable distance apart and capable of being rocked in either direction, and means for limiting the amplitude of the rocking partition-plates and for preventing at the same time the latter from closing upon one another, the said limiting means being arranged below the axes of rotation of the partition-plates and adapted not to interfere with the compartments formed between the rocking partition-plates, but to allow of an unobstructed access to and use of such compartments, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device for asserting papers and the like, the combination of a board or plate, rows of separate apertures provided in the latter, a plurality of partition-plates resting with their lower edges on the said plate, lugs extending from the loweredgesof the partition-plates and engaging each a separate aperture, and stops for the lugs, the said stops being on the under side of the plate at the sides of the apertures, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device for assorting papers and the like. the combination of a base-board, two sets of partition-plates, two setsof rows of apertures provided in the base-board and alternat ing with each other, lugs extending from the lower edges of the partition-plates and engaging the corresponding sets of apertures, and stops for the lugs, the saidrstops being formed by the beveled sides of the apertures, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL LUDWIG THEODOR MULLER.

Witnesses:

MAX LEN-101m, -OTTO FUoH. 

